Method of numbering automobiles



Oct. 7 1924..

s. TFiUEBLOOD METHOD OF NUMBERING AUTOMOBILES Filed Sept. 14. 1923 INVENTOR ATTORNEY WITNESS:

Patented Get. 7, 1924.

UNITED STATES SAMUEL LEONARD TRUEBLOOD, OF BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA.

METHOD 0E NUMBERING AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed September 14, 1923. Serial No. 662,724.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL L. TRUE- uLoon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baton Rouge, in the parish of East Baton Rouge and State of Louisiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in lilethods oi Numbering Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

lhe purpose of this invention is to provide a new and improved method of numbering motors oi the type generally employed in motor operated vehicles, with a view to locating the number so that it cannot be destroyed or otherwise impaired, which is frequently done subsequent to the theft of the automobile to prevent the owner tit-om identifying his car in case he is called upon to do so.

More specifically stated, the invention has for its object a. new and improved method oi" numbering the cylind r block, wherein use is made oi a plate,the opposite sides of which are provided with the same number and which block is embedded in one or more of the cylinders: of the motor as the latter is being cast, so that one number will be exposed to view from the exterior of the motor, while the number on the other side of the plate lies substantially flush with the wall or the cylinder, a fact unknown to those other than the owner of the vehicle, so that the owner will be able to identify his car it called upon to do so at any time, or the cylinder may be similarly numbered by using the numerals of any particular number separately and embedding such numerals in the motor block during the casting operation.

One of the chief characteristics of the invention. resides in numbering a motor in a manner to prevent the number from being destroyed or otherwise impaired without destroying the motor block, and allowing the cylinder in which the number appears to be rebored or reground without impairing the number lying flush with the wall,

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood when the following detailed description is read in connection with the accompanying drawing, the invention residing in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawing forming part of this application, like numerals of reference indi- Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 F showing the manner of using the numerals of the character shown in Figure 6.

Figure 6 1s a detail view of one of the numerals adapted to be separately embedded in the cylinder block during the casting operation.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment or" the invention, I make use of what 1 term av number plate, the plate being indicated at 10 and which may be constructed of any suitable material and also vary in size and shape without departing from the spirit of the invention. One essential characteristic off this plate is that it must Vary in color from the body color substance or by externally coating the same with paint chemicals, so that the number on the plate may be readily seen at any time, in that it will stand out in contrast with regard to the color of the material from which the motor is made. Each side of this plate 10 is provided with the same number, with which of course, each motor is provided with a view of keeping a record and also of providing means for subsequent identification.

In accordance with the present invention, this number plate is placed in the mold prior to molding the cylinder bloclr, so that when the metal is poured into the mold and the motor cast, the number plate will be embedded in the motor in the manner shown in Figure 1, with the number of one side of the plate exposed to view from the exterior side of the motor, and with the number on the other side of the plate lying substantially flush with the wall of one cylinder of the motor. It will be noted that the depth of the numbers on either side of the late is such that it would be impossible to file the numbers oil or otherwise impair or destroy the number beyond recognition without injuring the motor block itself and that fact allowsthe particular cylinder or cylinders in which the number appears to be rebored or regro-und as the occasion may require without destroying the number. The particular location of the number plate with relation to the particular cylinder or cylinders is a discretionary matter with the manufacturer depending of course whether or not the motor block is provided with a removable head. If the number plate is used with a motor having a removable head it can be placed so that it can be readily seen by moving the head and lowering the piston in the particular cylinder toa point beneath the number. If on the other hand the number plate is used with a motor having a fixed head it can be so located as to be readily seen by any one subsequent to the dropping of the crank case and moving the piston upwardly in the particular cylinder. An electric light bulb and mirror may be resorted to if necessary to see the number which as above stated will stand out prominently as a result of the fact that the number plate is constructed or coated with material of a distinct color different from that of the metal from which the motor is cast.

In Figures 5 and 6, I have shown a modified form of the invention wherein it will be noted that instead of arranging the number of the motor on a 'plate, the various numerals of said number are adapted to be separately embedded in the motor block during the casting operation. In Figure 6, I have illustrated a numeral 11 which is provided with projections 12, so that when such numerals are arranged in the mold, they will be cast with the cylinder block in the'manner shown in Figure 5 and thus locked in the cylinder block so that they cannot be removed or otherwise casually displaced without injury to the block.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description, the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent, I desire to have it understood that I do not limit myself towhatis herein shown and described and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1.. A new and improved method of numbering motor blocks, consisting in embedding the number in the blockwhen the lat ter is cast with the numerals of said number arranged to be viewed eirteriorly of the block and interiorly of one of the cyl inders thereof.

2. A new and improved method of numbering motor blocks consisting in the use of anu-mber platehaving a number oneither side of the plate, and embedding the plate in the motor block when the latter is cast, with the numbers arranged to be viewed exteriorly of the block and interiorly of one of the cylinders thereof.

3. The combination with a motor block, of a number plate adapted to be embedded in the motor block, said plate having identical numbers on either side thereof, with one nu-mber exposed to view from the eX- terior of the motor block. and the number onthe other side of the plate being arranged flush with the wall of the cylinder, the numbers forming part of the plate being to prevent the numbers from being destroyed without injury to the motor block.

at. A new and improved method of numbering motor blocks consisting in the use of a number plate having a number on either side of the plate, embedding the number plate in a motor block when the latter is cast, with the number arranged to be viewed eXterio-rly and in-teriorly of one cylinder thereof, the number on said plate varying in color from the metal froinwhich. the motor block is cast for the purpose specified;

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

SAMUEL LEONARD TRUEBLOOD; 

